Starliner’s return delayed again
NASA today announced that the return of Starliner from ISS, carrying two astronauts, has been delayed again, from June 18th to June 22nd.
It appears engineers want to perform more tests of the the spacecraft’s attitude thrusters before undocking. The failure of some thrusters during docking on June 6th has raised some concerns.
NASA and Boeing teams also prepared plans for Starliner to fire seven of its eight aft-facing thrusters while docked to the station to evaluate thruster performance for the remainder of the mission. Known as a “hot fire test,” the process will see two bursts of the thrusters, totaling about a second, as part of a pathfinder process to evaluate how the spacecraft will perform during future operational missions after being docked to the space station for six months. [emphasis mine]
The highlighted words are kind of a lie. While there is no doubt this test will tell engineers a lot about future operations, such a test, while attached to ISS, would never have been approved had the thrusters all worked as planned during docking. The real reason for this static fire test is to make sure the thrusters will work once undocked.
If they don’t work, there could be a safety issue putting the astronauts in Starliner for return to Earth.
NASA plans a press briefing on June 18th at noon (Eastern) to outline in better detail the situation.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
NASA today announced that the return of Starliner from ISS, carrying two astronauts, has been delayed again, from June 18th to June 22nd.
It appears engineers want to perform more tests of the the spacecraft’s attitude thrusters before undocking. The failure of some thrusters during docking on June 6th has raised some concerns.
NASA and Boeing teams also prepared plans for Starliner to fire seven of its eight aft-facing thrusters while docked to the station to evaluate thruster performance for the remainder of the mission. Known as a “hot fire test,” the process will see two bursts of the thrusters, totaling about a second, as part of a pathfinder process to evaluate how the spacecraft will perform during future operational missions after being docked to the space station for six months. [emphasis mine]
The highlighted words are kind of a lie. While there is no doubt this test will tell engineers a lot about future operations, such a test, while attached to ISS, would never have been approved had the thrusters all worked as planned during docking. The real reason for this static fire test is to make sure the thrusters will work once undocked.
If they don’t work, there could be a safety issue putting the astronauts in Starliner for return to Earth.
NASA plans a press briefing on June 18th at noon (Eastern) to outline in better detail the situation.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
I think there’s at least a 50/50 chance those 2 astronauts are going to have to return on a Dragon. This could be the end for Boeing Space.
Boy, James McDonnell sure created a toxic management culture – two great companies, Douglas and Boeing, were ruined by McDonnell mismanagement.
All tests were nominal until……………..
They have got to hate needing these tests while under operations.
“… This could be the end for Boeing Space. …”
and still no in depth reporting on what is preventing Boeing from producing solid products. I think it is the divergent mix of unions and DEI. But that is pure speculation. Interview recently retired workers and managers. You just know they will prove to be an opinionated bunch with access to insider knowledge.
Steve Richter: The numerous Boeing whistleblowers have testified extensively about Boeing’s messed up corporate culture. Do a search and some reading. It will disgust you.
Poor Boeing astronauts don’t even have a change of clothes with them.
Better call Elon. Now.
Steve Richter
While Boeing may have the issues you describe, my suspicion is the Boeing management only used Starliner as a training exercise for their ‘junior’ engineers or did little serious about it at the beginning.
My cynic view is that they, along with their pet politicians (Nelson being one), expected to kill the program and divert the funds to other more profitable NASA activities.
When it became apparent that SpaceX was making serious progress thanks to their openness in showing it all off, including any mishaps, the Boeing management failed to respond in time. Now they’re living with that lack of commitment.
Does anyone else think it’s coincidence Nelson doesn’t seem to make much appearance re:Starliner, but would be front and center if they succeeded shouting his confidence in Boeing from the beginning?
The numerous Boeing whistleblowers have testified extensively
And then committed suicide – you can tell from the bullet wounds in the back of their heads.
That’s barely even cynicism. There is something seriously wrong with our “elite”.
“NASA plans a press briefing on June 18th at noon (Eastern) to outline in better detail the situation.”
I would like to be a fly on the wall in the analysis room and the management conference room. Could it be that bad? I bet they have 5 PR types working in series trying to figure out the best way to spin the situation in the press briefing in 4 days.
It seems that the most charitable case is that the current crew is in no danger but Boeing and NASA recognize that the current situation/ condition of the Starliner system is untenable in the case of a 6 month stay during a normal crew mission. The additional time is to allow data to be taken so that upon return Boeing has some hope of figuring out what is going on with their commercial crew system. I expect that Boeing is not going to get a crew resupply mission in the foreseeable future.
Look for Congress or NASA management to give Boeing some special arrangement to help them out of their jam.
Boeing did not let Starliner become a training device for their junior engineers.
If everything well the juniors would get all the credit.
I can see the original engineers quitting the project as problems mounted. Thus leaving the juniors to take the heat.
Those who can will do it every time.
I am just surprised that Boeing let this ship fly after the mounting problems could not be corrected but instead just worked around.
Larry brings up a good point.
So I wonder what the contingency plans are if Starliner is no good? Leave Suni and Butch on the station and bring up the next Dragon with only two members, which is due in August? I know the Dragon “Resilience” is supposed to launch next month with a private crew with the EVA modifications, would they modify it back to docking with ISS? Does the currently docked Dragon “Endeavour” have the ability to carry more people?
Jay: It is impossible to reconfigure Resilience. The hatch has replaced the docking mechanisms.
Endeavour launched with four astronauts. I don’t think it can carry six.
Bottom line: While they could come home on the Dragon due in August, I think the situation is not that critical. The issues on Starliner are disturbing because of what they tell us about the quality control at Boeing. They do not appear to be so bad that a return in the capsule. is too dangerous.
Thanks Bob. I was looking at the up/down mass numbers for the manned Dragon, but it is probably a not question of mass but of volume and bringing them back safely in one piece!
Ah, just put Jerry Linenger in it….
This is a good reason to have a reserve Dragon set aside and waiting.
Just put it on the next Falcon 9 and go.